Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-03-19

rs this Republic of our did on its CEN
tennial anniversary. II IS grand to
look upon beyond anything in history,
and We do not like to be told by pitt
less philosophy that there IS worm in
the bud, that money Is corrupting and
sapping the fountains OF FREQ govern
ment, the peoples government. Ney-
ertheless 1t is true. Money sits entrench-
ed behind legislative enactments, con-
stitutional barriers, and judicial decis-
ions, and assails the constitutional
rights OF the people day by day. Like
the constant dropping Of the water that
wears the rock, 1t insldiously and stead
lily encroaches upon the safeguards
that protect the peoples rights IL sits
enthroned supreme In the Senate cham
Der at Washington, and comes up like
a rising tide IN The lower house. It's
agent, the great monopolies, appeal
successfully 10 individual greed to
override the public good. SO strong is
the love OF money as national charac-
terlstlc that the press is ready agency
TO mislead the masses and induce them
to sacrifice invaluable rights for the
temporary gain or the advantages of an
hour.
Seven years OF bloody warand unpar.
alleled prlvatlon and suffering was the
reasonable price OF Tree government
and written constitution, guarantee.
ing the rights which the people are
now guaranteeing inch by inch to cen
trallzed wealth and power. The price
offered Is mess OF pottage, now in the
shape OF donation to drouth suffer
ers In Texas, now in the delusive shape
OF a promise OF increased wages, again
IN the shape OF the insdious Blair bill,
which would make political, and in the
end personal slavery the price of know-
edge, and again IN the thousands of
pensions and local and personal jobs
and schemes in congress which appeal
to no higher grade OF patriotism than
that which loves the government for the
opportunities it affords the lew to rob
the many through the operations OF the
public Treasury. The man who is
willing to sanction an appropriation OF
money out OF the United States rreasu-
ry, not authorized by the constitution,
because some OF 1t may reach his locall-
ty, Is more unwise than the man who
would pull the boards oil his own roof,
without the power To replace them,
and burn them for stove wood in the
summer time. The shelter of a house
may be sought elsewhere, but unless all
history lsa lie the shelter OF the con-
sutuuon once broken down will never
be replaced by anything short OF the
oyershadowing oppression OF imperial
power. None are soblind as those who
Will not see, and none are so deaf as
those who will not hear The dollar
that rests on the bridge of the nose is
larger than the sun in the heavens, and
shuts out the light, and so it is that the
same dollar shuts out the light of histo-
ny and OF truth from the eye of greed.
The man who walks the earth listening
to the Jlngllng of the gold and silver i'll
his pocket which he gets by over-reach-
ing his neighbor, though he Is rot deaf,
he will never hear echoing in his heart
the truth which sacred and profane
history teaches of the rights OF man.
There never was time in our history
when strong man was more needed
to stay the march of Capitalization than
it is needed now. Let us hope that in
Cleveland we have found the man.